Town Announces Plans To Sell Historic House

Buyer Is Interested In Building, Property

KILLINGWORTH — First Selectman Marty Klein announced plans Monday to sell the historic farmhouse and 14.22 acres of the town-owned Bosco property on Route 81.

Klein told residents at a board of selectmen meeting that there is at least one ``very interested'' prospective buyer for the house and surrounding property. He said the buyer would accept a condition, imposed by the town, that the early 19th-century farmhouse be restored and not demolished.

Klein said the parcel would be sold through a sealed bid process, with other interested parties allowed to bid for the property.

``We will structure it in such a way that the house will be preserved,'' he said.

The town purchased the 133-acre former turkey farm for $740,000 in 2001. The parcel was the subject of failed referendums for a community recreation complex in 2003 and 2004. The Killingworth Historical Society had expressed interest in using the farmhouse to display and store its collection, but decided last year not to pursue a request to use the house.

Klein said he would ask M.B. DiMarco & Associates of Durham to appraise the farmhouse and surrounding 14.22 acres. He said the appraisal could guide the board of selectmen in setting a minimum bid for the purchase.

Klein said the sale agreement would also include a provision granting the town a 100-foot right of way on the north side of the house. He said the right of way would provide access for any future town hiking trails to the back section of the property, which abuts sections of Cockaponsett State Forest.

Klein said he is also willing to set aside ``15 buildable acres'' on the south side of the property that would be available for sale to Regional School District 17.

The district is constructing a middle school for grades 5-8 on two abutting parcels on Route 81. The school is scheduled to open in 2007, but there have been questions on whether the district-owned land is large enough to accommodate future expansion of the school.

``The school system could have an option on this land forever,'' Klein said.

Klein said he has met with the unidentified prospective buyer, and received input on how much land to include with the sale of the farmhouse.

After the property is advertised and bids received, the board of selectmen would decide whether to authorize the sale. The sale would require final approval from voters at a town meeting.